Breadcrumb

Photographic Record of the Heads/Presidents of the College of New Brunswick, King's College and UNB

In May 1944, Clarence McNaughton Steeves (BAI, 1905; MSc 1913; LLD 1947) donated "a photographic representation of the succesive heads of the University from 1811 to 1944." (James Sommerville to Norman A.M. MacKenzie) These photographs, supplemented with additional photos of the more recent Presidents, were hung in the President's Office in Sir Howard Douglas Hall and remained there until ca. 1980. The photographs were transferred to UNB Archives in 2007. This site features electronic versions of the Steeves' photographs (with additional post-1980 images from the Archives' photograph collection) along with a thumbnail sketch of each president's major achievements.

Note - Coming Soon: images of the presidents' official portraits that are displayed in the Great Hall of Sir Howard Douglas Hall.

Joseph R. Hea - Term of Office 1860-1861

‘graduated’ from King’s College in 1849 “probably did not attend lectures at Fredericton; under an 1843 provision, as a non-resident student, could write exams for three successive years without actually attending classes"

taught at the Sackville Academy from 1849-1851

first president of UNB after its re-chartering in 1859

students complained he was a harsh disciplinarian

his tenure was stormy, as Edwin Jacob refused to relinquish any of his Presidential duties; after only one year, Hea was asked to resign

Thomas Harrison - Term of Office 1885-1906

professor of English and Moral Philosophy at UNB in 1870; after 1885, president and professor of Mathematics

first native New Brunswicker to serve as president

University Act changed in 1891: title of "President" changed to "Chancellor"; title of "President" passed to the Provincial Chief Superintendent of Education. Chancellor retained duties of President; Chief Superintendent presided over University’s governing body (Senate). Arrangement remained in place until 1931

presided over extensive developments on campus both physical and intellectual: established Forestry programme; initiated affiliation with Saint John Law School and established Summer School in Fredericton

over his 34-year tenure as president, very popular with the student body; strongly affiliated with students serving in the Great War and active in fund-raising for Memorial Hall

first president to have a university building named for him - Jones House, 1958

official portrait painted by Charles MacGregor

Norman A.M. MacKenzie - Term of Office 1940-1944

b. 5 January 1894, Pugwash, NS - d. 26 January 1986, Vancouver BC

law professor before joining UNB

war-time president

urged the incorporation of the province’s Normal Schools into the University – not accomplished until the 1960s

a time of extensive changes in university governance across Canada; creation of the UNB Board of Governors to look after administrative and business matters, and a new Senate was created to oversee academic affairs

enrolment increased from c. 670 students to over 4700

at the time of his retirement UNB boasted 27 degree programmes

number of faculty jumped from fewer than 100 to nearly 400

presided over establishment of UNBSJ

Teachers’ College absorbed by UNB

tenure ended during a period of wide-spread student unrest

official portrait painted by Lucy Jarvis

James O. Dineen - Term of Office 1970-1972

b. 24 July 1920, Hampton, NB - d. 21 September 1975, Fredericton

UNB graduate in electrical engineering, class of 1940; Rhodes scholar

1941 taught at UNB’s Radio School

1942 assistant professor Electrical Engineering, later becoming associate professor and head of the department

1957 dean of engineering

acting president in 1969

championed advanced scholarship and research

presided over the resulting transition in UNB’s governance, after the "Strax Affair"

term as president cut short by ill-health

official portrait painted by Thomas Reid (T.R.) MacDonald

Desmond Pacey - Acting President 1972

b. 1 May 1917 Dunedin, New Zealand - d. 4 July 1975 Fredericton

John M. Anderson - Term of Office 1973-1980

b. 1926, Toronto

c. 1958-1963 assistant professor of biology

returned to NB in 1967 as director of the Fisheries Research Board, connect with the Biological Research Station at St. Andrews

as President, continued campus expansion begun by Dr. Mackay

encouraged new programmes and expanded UNB’s research capacity

succeeded during difficult economic time

official portrait painted by Marjory Donaldson

Thomas J. Condon - Acting President 1979-1980

b. 27 July 1930 New Haven, Connecticut

James Downey - Term of Office 1980-1990

b. 20 April 1939, Winterton, NL

period of fiscal restraint

•expanded programmes and facilities on both campuses

more autonomy for UNBSJ

gifted speaker and raconteur, bringing UNB’s story to many campus and community groups

noted as "a student's president"

period of great change: new President (Downey), new V-P Academic (Dr. Robert Burridge), new Chancellor (Lady Aitken); faculty certified for collective bargaining as AUNBT

fiscal restraint of the 1970s continued; management of the University's financial resources became a principal challenge

dire prospects for enrolment predicted - BUT enrolment increased in all categories over the 1980s

established and chaired the Committee to Review Inter-Campus Relations (CRICR) which led to the formation of a separate academic senate for UNBSJ and a new measure of autonomy and identity

presided over the planning for the ambitious bi-centennial celebrations of 1985

Third-Century Fund Campaign launched in 1982, and later surpassed its goal of $10 Million

UNB Development Office established in 1984 to follow up and build upon the campaign's success

Futures Fund endowment established in 1986

two new faculties established: Administration; Computer Science; new undergraduate programmes introduced, including women's studies and several new Masters' and PhD level programmes introduced

in Fredericton, new buildings included Gillin Hall, Singer Hall and an addition to Ludlow Hall; in Saint John, a new life sciences lab was opened

Elizabeth Parr-Johnston - Term of Office 1996-2002

established several new chairs and centres (e.g. University Women’s Centre)

oversaw creation of Renaissance College

construction of new buildings on both campuses

attracted National Research Council E-Commerce Centre to campus

doubled scholarship funding

re-organisation of academic administration to strengthen key areas

established an improved financial planning and control structure

official portrait painted by Stephen Scott

John McLaughlin - Term of Office 2002-2009

b. 14 March 1947, Fredericton (Devon)

fourth UNB graduate to have become president (BScSE, 1969; MScSE, 1971)

joined faculty in 1972

Over the past 25 years, held increasingly responsible administrative positions:

1985-1991 chair, geodesy & geomatics engineering deptartment

1997-2000 vice-president (Research & International Co-operation)

2000-20002 vice-president (Academic)

annual research revenues more than doubled

a visionary land management plan was developed for both campuses

two new residences and a laboratory-classroom building for the world-class Canadian Rivers Institute were constructed

in Fredericton, commercial development began on the 3,000-acre woodlot, the proceeds from which will fund further campus improvements

the Sir Howard Douglas Society was established for Dean’s List students whose extracurricular contributions are also exceptional

the University reached out to the citizens of the Province through the ‘Next New Brunswick’ initiative, identifying 21 Young Leaders for the 21st Century

“making a significant difference” the Forging Our Futures Campaign, the largest-ever in Atlantic Canada, raised more than $100 million

named President Emeritus in 2009

official portrait painted by Stephen May

H.E.A. "Eddy" Campbell - Term of Office 2009-

since arriving at UNB in September 2009, Dr. Campbell has initiated a comprehensive bi-campus strategic planning exercise

he has also showed tremendous support for UNB's 225th anniversary celebrations

Dr. Campbell came to UNB after five years as Vice-president (Academic)/acting president at Memorial University

Prior to his arrival at Memorial University he spent 21 years at Queen's University Queen’s University where he was associate dean faculty of arts and science; and professor and head of department of mathematics and statistics